Layered Wild Blueberry Basil Avocado Smoothie (dairy-free, vegan)
By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the Wild Blueberry Association of North America and I am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
If you are here in Chicago then you know we've had unseasonably warm weather for February. Instead of the usual frigid temperatures and mounds of snow, the sun is shining and temperatures are in the 40s! Although this might not seem like a big deal to other parts of the country the weather has Chicagoans thinking about spring. This inspired me to make a delicious smoothie to reminder us we can enjoy a little bit of sunny weather right in the middle winter.
Wild blueberries are the nutritional star of the smoothie. One cup of wild blueberries has 80 calories, 6 grams fiber, 94mg potassium and twice the antioxidant capacity of cultivated blueberries. Blueberries have been widely studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits which can help with digestive health and ease inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases.
WHAT ARE WILD BLUEBERRIES?
Wild blueberries are not planted - they grow naturally in Maine and Eastern Canada. They are smaller and more intense in flavor than traditional (cultivated) blueberries we are all familiar with. You can find wild blueberries in the frozen fruit section of your local grocery store; just make sure the package says "wild".
I think you are going to love this combination of flavors - first a layer of creamy avocado, fresh basil and coconut milk. Then, the smoothie is topped with a tart and sweet blend of wild blueberry, lemon and almond milk.
This smoothie is:
filling
creamy
refreshing
has an intense blueberry flavor
Layered Wild Blueberry Bail Avocado Smoothie
Ingredients:
Avocado Layer
1/2 avocado
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 dates, pitted
4 fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk (canned)
Wild blueberry Layer
1 lemon, juiced
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 date, pitted
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon full-fat coconut milk (canned)
Instructions:
1. First make the avocado smoothie layer. Place ingredients in a blender and blend on high until combined. Pour the avocado smoothie into a glass.
2. Rinse out your blender.
3. Make the wild blueberry smoothie layer by placing ingredients into the blender and blend on high until combined. Carefully pour the smoothie on top of the avocado smoothie.
4. Serve immediately. Swirl the smoothie with a straw or spoon to gently combine the layers and sip!
